How this photo changed royal fan’s life

by Hannah Paine

16th May 2018 6:15 PM

KAREN Anvil had just 11 Twitter followers when her life changed forever.

Working two jobs to support herself and her daughter after a bout of ill health, Ms Anvil was among the 1000 strong crowd who had gathered to see the royals walk outside after church in Sandringham on Christmas Day last year.

After taking a video of the royals milling outside St Mary Magdalene Church, the amateur photographer, 40, decided to use her iPhone to snap a keepsake.

"They just happened to look over and I took one photo," she told documentary Meghan Markle: The First 100 Days.

Karen Anvil has stopped working two jobs and has taken her first holiday since taking the now iconic photo. Picture: Channel 9

What Ms Anvil didn't realise at the time is she had succeeded where none of the dozens of press photographers had.

The royal fan had snapped a photo of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walking in line with Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle, all looking towards her camera.

Posting the photo to Twitter, it swiftly went viral and was retweeted more than 90,000 times.

Then, countless magazines and newspapers got in touch and the rest, according to Ms Anvil, is history.

Ms Anvil took one photo of the young royal couples as a keepsake. Picture: Channel 9

Her 'fab four' photo was sold around the world and the proceeds have changed Ms Anvil's life.

The struggling single mother, who was previously too embarrassed to let people see her home, has been able to complete much needed renovations.

"I've had my bathroom tiled, I've had my kitchen tiled, I'm going to get new carpet, I'm going to get my garden done and I am going to get myself a puppy." Ms Anvil told the documentary.

Ms Anvil’s photo was featured in countless publications. Picture: The Sun

The injection of cash also means Ms Anvil no longer has to sleep on the floor on a mattress, taking to Twitter earlier this month to show off her new bed.

"I don't have to work two jobs anymore, I have no debt, I went for the first time away, I got my passport, I've never had a passport, I went to Dublin when I turned 40 and that was fun that was amazing," she told Sky News.

Revealing on Twitter that Harry had hoped she had made "lots of money" from the photo, Ms Anvil said she had nothing but well wishes for the royal and Meghan ahead of their wedding.

"I wish them all the happiness in the world and they will have a special place in my heart because, unbeknown to them, they have changed my life," she said.